Will not speak on it: DK Shivakumar on claims of honeytrap attempts on Karnataka politicians
Bengaluru, Mar 23 (PTI): Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said he would not speak on claims that Karnataka ministers and MLAs were targeted by honeytrap rackets, seeking to distance himself from an issue that has snowballed into a huge controversy.
During Thursday's sitting of the assembly, Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna claimed that at least 48 MLAs, cutting across party lines, had been honeytrapped and that the network was spread across the country, with many Union ministers also caught in it.
Shivakumar said that, as the Congress' Karnataka unit chief, he spoke to Rajanna and asked him to lodge a complaint.
"I can't explain what he told me. I asked him to lodge a complaint," the deputy chief minister said.
Amid rumours that Rajanna and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi were planning to visit Delhi to apprise the party high command about the honeytrap racket active in the state, Rajanna's son Rajendra met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
When reporters asked Shivakumar the reason behind the meeting, he said, "Anyone can meet anyone. Many MPs, MLAs and even people meet the chief minister and me."
He then said he would not reply on the honeytrap issue.
"Don't ask me about that. I will not reply to anything concerning that issue," Shivakumar said.
Asked if he was travelling to Delhi to discuss the latest developments with the party high command, the veteran leader said he did not need to meet anyone about such false news.
To a question whether it was embarrassing for the Congress and the government for the honeytrap issue to be raised in the assembly, Shivakumar said, "Ask the chief minister about this."
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Palaniswami rules out power-sharing in TN with BJP after 2026 polls, contradicts NDA ally: Report
Chennai: Days after the AIADMK formally rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) made it clear that no coalition government will be formed in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 Assembly elections, directly contradicting a recent assertion by senior BJP leader Amit Shah.
Palaniswami's remarks contradict Shah’s statement made in Chennai on April 11, where the Union Minister had said that a coalition government led by the AIADMK would soon come to power in the state.
Addressing reporters at the State Secretariat, EPS asserted that Shah’s remarks were being misinterpreted. “He didn’t say it would be a coalition government. You are misinterpreting and trying to play tricks. Please stop that,” Palaniswami was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
Clarifying further, the former Chief Minister emphasised that Shah’s remarks merely indicated that the “AIADMK-BJP alliance” would form the government, and not that there would be a power-sharing arrangement. Palaniswami emphasised that while the alliance would be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level, it would be led by him in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leaders told The Indian Express that EPS’s clarification was prompted by significant internal feedback. “There were several calls and feedback messages from our leaders and well-wishers who believed Shah’s speech hinted at some form of power-sharing. That’s why he had to say it clearly on Wednesday,” IE report quoted one party leader as saying.
Though the BJP has not issued an official response to EPS’s comments, party insiders reportedly said EPS’s stand was expected and no offence was taken.
